As evidenced by Michael Bauer’s 40-plus reviews this year, 2012 was a very good year for new restaurants. It was a year that saw the Bay Area get respectable bagels and the Mission get a standout Jewish deli. First-timers opened restaurants, as did celebrity chefs like Charlie Palmer, Joanne Weir and Martin Yan. Forward-thinking pastry shops popped up, alongside big box shops like Hakkasan and Rosa Mexicano, the city’s first gay sports bar (Hi Tops), and so much more excitement.

In the gallery above, check out the most notable places to open in the past 12 months. What were your favorites? What’s on your 2013 list to check out?

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And in case you missed it earlier, here’s the collection of restaurants that closed in the past year: